Joker’s T-Rated Gag Gun Fatality All Gag No Gore
by Chad Lakkis on October 25, 2008 at 4:32 pm
In the midst of all the Metacrtic user score bashing, you may have missed out on some fairly important Mortal Kombat vs DC Universe news. The Joker’s Gag Gun fatality that took the internet by storm has been reworked due to ESRB Teen rating scrutiny.
If you have been following our coverage of the game here at Ripten, you already know that we had a chance to sit down with Hector Sanchez (the game’s producer) at E3. He walked us through the latest MK installment, and we spent some hands-on time with it as well.
Overall, my impression was positive, and I was looking forward to the game’s release. That excitement escalated further when I saw Hector unveil the Joker’s Gag Gun fatality in late August on GameTrailers TV. He wrapped up the segment by addressing skeptics.
“So for all the people that thought that this was going to be Mortal Kombat light, you’ve seen it here first on GameTrailers TV, the Joker actually blows Katana’s head off.”
The concept was vicious and yet the blood wasn’t persistent — something Hector explained to be a key requirement in order to achieve a Teen rating. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem to be enough to convince the ESRB powers at be.
The Joker’s Gag Gun fatality that I fell in love with just two short months ago has been further “teen-a-fied”. Kotaku describes the new version after experiencing it first hand:
Joker still whips out his prank gun, a “BANG!” flag unfurling. Unfortunately, you won’t see the follow up of Joker shooting someone in the face; that actually happens off screen now, the headshot safely out of sight.
Meh. I’m disappointed. Personally, I find those damn Highschool Musical films more disturbing than a little non-persistent blood. It’s too bad. I’m holding out hope for Hector and the crew at Midway, but it appears that the ESRB has them right where they want them — drained, dazed, and ready for a finishing move of their own.
Related Posts:
- Joker’s Card Deck Fatality Deals a Killer Hand
- Joker’s Gag Gun Fatality Ends with a BANG!
- Midway Delivers Fatality to Austin Studio
- Mortal Kombat vs DC To Be Rated Teen
- Mortal Kombat Fatality Retrospective: Witness 231 Fatalities In Under 7 Minutes
- BioShock Movie to be Directed by Gore Verbinski: Might Not Suck
- Hands-On Preview: Mortal Kombat vs. DC
- Joker Fatality in its Full Glory for European Market
6 Comments » |












on October 25, 2008 4:43 pm
a code to see it maybe a few weeks after release???
on October 25, 2008 5:31 pm
Thanks to the ESRB, this game will suck. Can’t wait for Gears 2.
on October 25, 2008 8:07 pm
Hey, Midway – need some more lube for when ESRB comes back? And use a condom, please.
on October 25, 2008 9:18 pm
To be honest guys, the game looks decent.
Graphically I’m sure nothing has changed since we saw it at E3, but I would rather they used generic knock off super heroes like “fast man”, “strong man”, and “the knight” or something.
Heck, I’d play a game called “Mortal Kombat vs Comic Book Universe” if it was more in line with the MK we are used to seeing.
“Green Ring Man” over and out.
on October 26, 2008 4:38 am
It would be good if they could put a free piece of DLC on marketplace which allows gore to be shown. They could tie it to the age of the GamerTag owner, so if the owner is younger than 18 then they can’t download the gore unlocker.
on November 8, 2008 1:59 am
I must say the without the M rated logo its not Mortal Kombat. I would have liked to seen joker blow of the other persons head. It might as will been a teen rated from Mortal Kombat one. This would have been a good dream fighting game with M rated fatlites. Thats what got me into Mortal kombat the M rated fatalties. Maybe on the sequal it would be M rated again.